Redox status of the testes and sperm of rats following exposure to 2,5-hexanedione

Figures & data

Table 1 Fluid intake, body weight, absolute, and relative organ weights in rats exposed to 2,5-HD for 21 consecutive days

	Control	0.25% 2,5-HD	0.5% 2,5-HD	1% 2,5-HD
Fluid intake/day/rat (ml)	25.32 ± 2.02	24.68 ± 2.08	18.79 ± 1.62^a	15.11 ± 0.97^a
Final body weight	247.01 ± 7.84	238.51 ± 7.33	232.86 ± 6.51	198.02 ± 8.25^a
Testes (g)	1.99 ± 0.04	1.95 ± 0.59	1.93 ± 0.60	1.32 ± 0.31^a
Testes (g/100 g bw)	0.81 ± 0.02	0.81 ± 0.05	0.83 ± 0.06	0.67 ± 0.01^a
Epididymis (g)	0.23 ± 0.04	0.21 ± 0.04	0.18 ± 0.03^a	0.14 ± 0.06^a
Epididymis (g/100 g bw)	0.09 ± 0.01	0.08 ± 0.01	0.07 ± 0.03^a	0.07 ± 0.02^a

Data are expressed as mean ± SD for eight rats per group.

^aP < 0.05 vs. Control.

Figure 1 SOD, CAT, GST, and GPx activities in testes and sperm following 21 consecutive days of 2,5-HD treatment in rats. Each bar represents mean ±  SD of eight rats. ^aP < 0.05 vs. Control; ^bP < 0.05 vs. 0.25% 2,5-HD.

Figure 2 GSH, H₂O₂ production, and lipid peroxidation levels in testes and sperm following 21 consecutive days of 2,5-HD treatment in rats. Each bar represents mean ± SD of eight rats. ^aP < 0.05 vs. Control; ^bP < 0.05 vs. 0.25% 2,5-HD, ^cP < 0.05 vs. 0.5% 2,5-HD.

Figure 3 Epididymal sperm number, motility, and viability in experimental rats following 21 consecutive days of 2,5-HD treatment in rats. Each bar represents mean ± SD of eight rats. ^aP < 0.05 vs. Control; ^bP < 0.05 vs. 0.25% 2,5-HD, ^cP < 0.05 vs. 0.5% 2,5-HD.

Figure 4 Specific (i.e. head, mid-piece, and tail) and total sperm morphological abnormalities in experimental rats following 21 consecutive days of 2,5-HD treatment in rats. Each bar represents mean ± SD of eight rats. ^aP < 0.05 vs. Control.

Figure 5 Histopathology of testes from control and 2,5-HD-treated rats. Representative photomicrographs of testes from control (A) and 0.25% 2,5-HD (B) showed normal morphology. Treatment-related lesions such as vacuolization (red arrow) and marked degeneration of the seminiferous tubules (black arrow) were observed in the testes of 0.5% 2,5-HD (C) and 1% 2,5-HD-treated rats (D).

Figure 6 Histopathology of epididymis from control and 2,5-HD-treated rats. Representative photomicrographs of epididymis from control (A) and 0.25% 2,5-HD (B) showed normal morphology. Epididymis from 0.5% 2,5-HD (C) and 1% 2,5-HD (D) groups showed progressive degeneration of epididymis characterized with severe erosion of the epididymal lining and reduced epithelia layer integrity.